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A Very Pleasant Visit - Tuesday Morning Writings #6

The visit to William's family home had gone well. Jenny enjoyed seeing his childhood home and was happy to meet his sister Annie. As his parents were dead, Jenny felt that getting along with Annie was important, if she and William were to have a future together. Annie treated Jenny like a sister and had cooked wonderful meals.

Widowed in her early forties and with the kids grown up, Jenny never thought of finding love again. William came to her college as a guest lecturer on business ethics and his dinner invitation had taken her by surprise. He'd lost his wife the same time she had lost her husband and both enjoyed being in a relationship again.

Annie gave them separate bedrooms. Jenny didn't mind. Annie's traditional mindset was understandable. After dinner on the second night, when they'd enjoyed a feast of locally produced mushrooms with steak, both John and Jenny had become ill with fever and vomiting. Annie outdid herself, calling the doctor, obtaining medicines and caring for the patients. John's gratitude to his sister knew no bounds.

"How she handled the emergency....." he marvelled the next morning.

"Want to go for a walk?" asked Jenny. She needed to get out.

"I'll rest," he said. "You go..."

Walking through the woods usually cleared her head, but not this morning. As she rounded the path, she glanced sideways and stopped. Taking a few steps to the left, she stared down at the mushrooms. Now she knew how they became sick, she just didn't understand why. It was time to find out.

"Why, Annie?" asked Jenny when they met in the hall.

"Why?" replied Annie, smiling.

"Why did you try to kill me and your brother last night, serving us poisoned mushrooms?" Annie dropped the mask of sweetness and a hard expression took its place.

"Not to kill you, just make you ill and leave. Couldn't kill William."

"You're too kind. But how come his wife died after eating a meal of locally grown mushrooms?"

"She hated me and I hated her. She wanted me to take money and leave. I'll never leave this house......"

Jenny took out her mobile and switched off recording. She didn't know it yet, but Annie wouldn't be eating dinner here tonight. Jenny had a brother too. Detective Inspector Jim Ross, investigating the murder of Sarah Desmond, would be delighted with this piece of breakthrough evidence. This would solve the case.

'But how will William take it?' Jenny thought. 'Let's wait and see.......'

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